The Red-tailed Hawk

Feature of the hawk

broad, rounded wings
short, wide tail
looks like an eagle from a distance

Color

rich brown above
pale, streaked underside
cinnamon red tail
no red tail if the bird is juvenile.

Behavior

mostly seen soaring above fields
they don't flap much but they use heavy wing beats and soar
when it is windy, they hover facing the wind
they attack in slow but controlled dive

Habitat

they like the open country
it is found above fields, on poles,and on fence posts
it can also be found on trees standing alone
not big forest birds because of the prey they hunt

Food

80%-85% of their diet is small rodents
mammals as large as rabbits can be eaten
reptiles and other birds make up the rest of their diet
they do not store food

Predation

they do not have many predators
great horned owls and Corvids are known to eat eggs or nest-lings

Human Threats

humans can create loss of habitat for the birds
humans can also shoot the birds (illegal in the US)
a huge human threat is automobile collisions
humans can interfere with the nesting of these birds
lead poison from eating food that contains lead shot

Migration

these hawks usually come through hawk mountain in

Links

hawk sound

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resources/naturesongs/rtha1.wav/view.html